Demarcus 

Curator: We are looking at Alfred Conteh's portrait, “Demarcus.” My initial feeling is one of disquiet. The... 'dripping' effect disrupts an otherwise conventional portrait. What are your thoughts? Editor: From a purely formal standpoint, the work is an intriguing study in contrasts. Conteh's strategic deployment of the warm reddish-brown against the cool teal is what creates immediate visual tension, which is then amplified by the almost unsettling paint application. Curator: Exactly. It evokes a sense of vulnerability or... a shedding of identity, doesn't it? The flowing blue paint, like tears, suggests a profound emotional experience or even a kind of ritualistic cleansing. Consider the power of water, both destructive and purifying. Editor: True, and that duality could reflect internal conflicts, the external pressures this person faces...it is impossible to look away from. We also shouldn't ignore how the subject looks straight out at us, connecting in a disarming way. This reinforces my feeling that we have the essence of this figure's persona captured here in the present. Curator: Yes, directness is everything to iconography! It’s worth thinking about how the sitter’s gaze adds so much power to this type of work. Editor: If we were to focus purely on composition, the artist used some clever strategies to achieve its effect. Look at how the relatively contained detail of the hair is directly balanced with the looser handling of the medium surrounding it; and the background is kept as a single flattened plane of pure color. These formal structures enhance a compelling balance and contribute greatly to its success as a total image. Curator: The symbolism here runs deeper than just individual feeling. In art, blue is connected to so many complex ideas - constancy, faith, and even melancholy. The red earth tones bring to mind human creation. Conteh uses them together here to create an overwhelming picture of personhood. Editor: Seeing them in conversation has illuminated the deeper intention here. Conteh really balances the emotional truth of the subject with expert artistic handling to convey meaning. Curator: I agree. "Demarcus" is more than just a portrait, it's an encapsulation of presence.